Potato-digger.



W. A. LIPPITZ.

POTATO DIGGER. 7 APPLICATION FILED sum: 15, I914.

Patentd Jan. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- Ein====n I:

HE OOLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,, WASHING W. A. LIPPITZ.

POTATO BIGGER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1914.

1,169,172. Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 2 m @1 fi *7 f V O y F2963 W WILHELIVZ ADALBER'E LIPPITZ, 0F 'POSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOPPTO THE FZRM 0F GEBRUDER LESSER, 0F POSEN, GERMANY.

POTATO-BIGGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filedJune 15, 1914. Serial No. 845,118.

To aZZ whom itmag concern."

Be it known that I, VIILI-IELM ADALBERT Lrrrrrz, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Posen, in the German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovemcntsin Potato-Diggers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the known kind of potato diggers in which projecting forks are rotated by star wheels arranged eccentrically relatively to each other.

The invention consists in the mounting of the eccentric pin for one star wheel. According to this invention, the eccentric pin supporting one star wheel is supportedby the free end of the driving shaft of the other star wheel.

Further, the invention relates to the means for adjusting one star wheel and preventing an unintentional swinging of the eccentric pin supporting the said star wheel.

A construction of the potato digger according to this invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a back view and Fig. 2 a side elevation, partly in section, of the improved potato digger; Fig. 3 is a plan, partly in section, of the same.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

To the driving shaft 6 is secured the driving star wheel (Z, (Z On the extension 6 of the driving shaft 0 is loosely mounted a sleeve 7' which does not participate in the rotation ofthe driving shaft. This sleeve has at its rear end a radial arm f carrying a pin 6 on which is mounted the second.

star wheel 7t, 7L1. The radial arms (Z of the driving star wheel are provided with pins (Z from which hang the forks a by means of a boss 24 Each boss 16 is provided wlth a crank pin M2. These .pins u pass through suitable bearings at the end of the' radial arms 7L of the, second star wheel.

In front of the fork device is arranged the share a secured to the frame of the digger. The shaft 0 is driven by bevel wheels m and n from the wheel axle 0. The bevel wheel m is mounted loose on the axle 0 and is provided with a coupling face 7). On the axle an adjustable coupling member 10 is mounted, rotatable therewith owing to a feather connection. The coupling member 72 is held in engagement with the coupling face 37 of the bevelwheel m by a suitable spring 1'. I

The disengagement of the coupling member can be effected for example by a'system of levers s t.

In order to prevent the sleeve from unintentionally swinging about the extension e of the driving shaft 6 a wooden bar 0 is w of a suitable support 4). When the fork prongs a are to work at a greater or less angle to the ground, for instance in the angular position 2 or 70 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. l), the eye 9 may be moved to the left or to the right, whereby the bar 0 and the crank structure f 7' rigidly connected therewith, will be swung or rocked on the driving shaft extension e as a pivot into-the position 2' or 70 indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

It is of great advantage to make the bar 0 of wood or other flexible material, in order to take up elastically the stroke or thrust transmitted by the forks to the star wheels, and from the latter to the pins 6 c and bar 0. If the resistance in the ground, for instance on account of a stone, is excessive, then the Wooden bar forms a safety device and breaks. This prevents valuable parts of the digger which cannot be replaced at once, from being damaged, while the wooden bar can be readily replaced. t is true that it is known to take up the shocks of the forks by elastic means such as springs, etc., but the whole arrangement in such a construction is differentfrom this invention.

I claim:

1. In a potato digger, a driving shaft carrying a star wheel, crank forks journaled on the arms of said star wheel, a sleeve loosely journaled on said driving shaft and provided with a radial arm, a journal pin carried by this arm, another star wheel j ournaled on this journal pin and pivo-tally con nected to the crank arms of the forks, and depending means connected to the frame of the vehicle and to the rear end of said journal pin for holding said journal pin against lateral swinging.

2. In a otato dl er a vehicle frame a driving shaft, a star Wheel affixed to the driving shaft and carrying pivotally mounted crank forks, a journal pin and means for and an adjustable rod depending from they frame of the vehicle for-holdingsaid journal pin against lateral movement. I

3.1m a potato digger, a vehicle frame, a driving shaft, a star Wheel affixed to the driving shaft andcarrying pivotally mounted crank forks, a journal pin and means for supporting it entirely upon said driving shaft, this journalpin being supported eccentrically to said driving shaft, a star Wheel jo-urnaled on said pin and pivotally connected to the crank arms of the forks, and ineans depending from the frame of the vehicle for holding said journal pin against lateral movement, said means embodying a ed crank forks, a journal pin and means for supporting it entirely upon said driving shaft, this journal pin being supported eccentrically to said driving shaft, a star Wheel journaled on said pin and pivotally, connected to the crank arms of the forks, and

.means depending from the frame of the vehicle for holding said journal pin against lateral movement, said means embodying a depending rod affixed at its lower end to said journal pin and means whereby the upper end of said rod may be laterally adjusted on the frame. r

' WILHELM ADALBE T IPl TYZ- lVitnesses:

HENRY HAsPEn, W EM R Copies of this patent niay be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

